Chronic Fatigue: Tired of Feeling Tired?

Sure, we all know what it feels like to be tired. But chronic fatigue refers to a lingering tiredness that is constant and limiting.

According Harris H. McIlwain, MD, Tampa-based rheumatologist and author of The Fibromyalgia Handbook, patients who complain of fatigue feel tired even when they've had plenty of sleep and should feel rested.

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While some patients admit to feeling sleepy, with fatigue there's usually there's a feeling of exhaustion without feeling drowsy says McIlwain, an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida. "Some patients with fatigue compare it to having the flu or to the feeling after working very long hours and missing a lot of sleep."

Before you blame your age or your "superwoman" lifestyle on your feelings of fatigue, learn what might be at the root of your unexplained tiredness and what some top experts recommend to resolve your chronic fatigue.

Chronic Fatigue Cause No. 1: Time-Stacking

For many women who suffer from fatigue, the diagnosis is "time-stacking" or multitasking to the max and not getting enough sleep.

"If you're juggling kids, careers, and a long list of commitments and only getting five or six hours a night, it will catch up with you, says McIlwain.

But what if you're a healthy woman, getting eight hours of sleep nightly, and still feel fatigue? McIlwain recommends a checkup to see if there are any health problems to blame for the fatigue.

If you feel fatigued for longer than a week or two and you're getting plenty of sleep and you don't have a cold or other viral infection, McIlwain says to call your doctor. "Most of the time fatigue has a fairly straightforward explanation, and sometimes medical treatment is necessary."

Fatigue can also be the sign of a serious illness, which is why your doctor may be able to quickly diagnose the problem.